The father of UGA player demands2 million dollars due to a fatal accident

Lawyers representing the father and the estate of a football player from a Georgia team, who died in a car accident in January, have notified the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia of their intention to seek $2 million in compensation for his wrongful death, according to documents obtained by ESPN on Tuesday through a public records request.

The lawyers representing Devin Wilcox's father, Dave, sent a legal notice to the regents and other parties on April 11, which is required when filing a lawsuit against government entities in Georgia. According to Georgia law, state agencies cannot be sued for more than $2 million.

Devin Wilock, an offensive lineman, and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy died in an accident on January 15, just hours after the "Bulldogs" celebrated their second consecutive national championship victory with a parade and ceremony on campus. Police stated that LeCroy was driving an SUV that was racing against the SUV of star defensive tackle Jalen Carter before the accident.

Former Georgia player Warren McClendon and another female staff member, Tori Bowles, were injured but survived.

According to the police, LeCroy's SUV was traveling at a speed of 104 miles per hour when it veered off the road and crashed into two utility poles and several trees. The police reported that her blood alcohol concentration was 0.197, which is about 2.5 times the legal limit in Georgia.

Dave Wilcox's lawyers claim that UGA officials were aware of LeCroy's driving record, which includes four speeding tickets in the last six years.

"To be clear, UGA and the agents and employees of the [University of Georgia Athletic Association] negligently entrusted the vehicle to LeCroy," the attorneys wrote in a legal notice. "Similarly, UGA and the agents and employees of UGAA negligently hired, supervised, trained, and retained LeCroy."

The legal notice states that the University of Georgia Athletic Association, its employees, and the LeCroy estate will be subject to a separate lawsuit, distinct from the regents.

The Georgian Sports Association rented a Ford Expedition, which LeCroy was driving, to pick up players. In an interview with ESPN on March 3, Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart stated that LeCroy was not obligated to drive players home that night. When asked if LeCroy should have been driving the SUV at the time of the accident, Smart replied, "Definitely not. Absolutely not."

Dave Wilcox's lawyers claim that LeCroy was given "instructions to leave the car for the entire weekend and to be available during those days to assist coaches, recruits, and players during the championship celebrations."

"The issuance of keys and similar items to recruiting assistants for entertaining players and recruits during the championship weekend is clearly evident, but the fact that UGA denies these facts in the media after the incident is, at the very least, poor manners," wrote Dave Wilcox's attorneys in a legal notice.

In a statement on Tuesday, UGA representative Greg Trevor denied the claims made by the attorneys that the UGA athletics department provided alcohol to LeCroy at championship events.

“While we continue to mourn the Wilcox family, the demand letter from Devin's father's attorney is full of inaccuracies,” Trevor wrote in a statement. “[Wilcox's attorney] has not provided the university with any sources or evidence to support these nonsensical claims. As we stated, personal use of vehicles rented for recruiting events is strictly prohibited. Ms. LeCroy was not engaged in athletic department duties around the time of the accident, and her personal use of the vehicle after completing her recruiting duties earlier in the evening was unlawful.”

Carter, a potential first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, pleaded guilty on March 16 to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving and racing. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a $1,000 fine, and 80 hours of community service, and he will also take a state-approved safe driving course. According to his attorney Kim Stephenson, by resolving this matter, the state is forever barred from bringing additional charges against Carter.